Tire alarm and gauge



W. A. HARRIS. TIRE ALARM AND GAUGE. APPLICATION man JUNE 9. 1921.

W. A. HARRIS. TIRE ALARM AND GAUGE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9.192l.

Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII @J WITNESSES A TTHNEVS UNITED STATES WILLIAM A. HARRIS, OF GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO.

PATENT oFFlcE.

KENNETH S. CONRAD, OF'GREENVILLE, SOUTHCAEOLINA.

TIRE ALARM AND GAUGE. A

Specification of Letters Patent.v

Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

Application mea June 9, 1921. serial No. 476,341.A

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. HARRIS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Greenville, in the county of Greenville and State of South Carolina, have invented y glance determine pressure remaining in theV tire.

A still further object is the provision of a device of the above character in which provision is made for inflation of the tire Without removing the device and in which provisionis also made for the proper exposure of the dial of the gauge when the device is l screwed on a valve stem.

A still further Objectis the provision of an arrangement in which the working parts are effectively housed and protected against the elements and against the entrance of dust, dirt and other foreign matter.

A still further object is the provision of parts which are simple in construction, capable of. ready manufacture in quantities and effectively and efliciently cooperate in use.

In carrying out the invention it is -a still further object to provide an arrangement which is applicable to tires carrying various pressures, without requiring adjustment, and in carrying out this object the inventlon proposes an arrangement which when placed in effective connection with a lvalve stem, will indicate the pressure in the tire and will sound an alarm upon eachv drop in pressure of a predetermined number of pounds so that the operator will be warned from time to time to examine the gauge and replenish the air supply. Low pressure alarms have been heretofore proposed by myself and by' others, but are for the most part open to the objection of waste of air pressure and to the further objection that no warnlng 1s given the operator in case he should be away from h1s car when the alarm sounds. It is for this reason that I have provided for repetition of the alarmas well as a gauge from the latter of which the operator can instant-ly determine whether the alarm is first, second or third which has been sounded.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate my invention and form a part ofA this specification,

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the practical application of my invention,

Figure 2 is a central vertical section through my invention in effective position and showing'normal conditin,

Figures 3 and 4 are horizontal sections taken respectively on lines 3-3 and 1 -4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the various parts in detached relation,

` Figure 6 is a side view partly broken away and in section showing the partsin position during sounding of an alarm, and

Figure is a front view also partly broken` away and in section.

Referring now to these figures I provide a combined pressure alarm and gauge generally com rising an attaching base l0, cylindrical b of which has an internally threaded lower cylindrical portion 1.3 adapted to screw upon a tire valve stem 151 as particularly shown in Figures 2 and 6.

At the upper end of its lower internally threaded portion 13, the attaching base 10 has an enlarged intermediate section 15 forming a chamber 16 therein and having threads 17 upon its inner surface for a purpose to be'v presently described. A transverse web 18 forms the base of chamber 16 and has a central opening' 19 extending through a depending boss 20 the latter of which in the effective position bears 'upon the valve pin 21 of the stem 14so as to delower surface of the transverse web or wall 18 to abut the upper end of the valvestem 14 and form an air tight joint.

At the upper end of its intermediate portion 15, the attaching `base 10 `has an enlarged annular ange. coaxial therewith as indicated at 23 and preferably provided ody 11 and cap 12, the formerv with an external knurled surface 24 facilitating the screwing of the attaching base 10 on a tire valve ste-m 14. This iange 23- forms between the same and the intermediate portion an upwardly facing annular Vshoulder to receive the outer or peripheral portion of a flexible diaphragm 25, the latter rigidly clamped at its central portion around the lower threaded portion of an air tube 26, the threads of which receive a clamping nut 27 bearing against the upper surface of diaphragm 25 so as to efable and has a lower. counterbore into which l the upper section of the lower portion. movably extends, the latter housing a sprin 1 31 bearing thereagainst at its upper endl This s ring 31 is coiled around the air tube 26 an bears at its lower end against the clamping nut 27 and thus acts to shift thef air tube 26 downwardly or inwardly a ainst I. the air pressure of the tire upon the ower surface of the dia hragm 25.

At its lower en the lower porti'n'30 of the body 11 has an annularly enlar ed portion 32 which is externally threa ed and screws into the flange .23 of the attaching base-10 so as to securely clamp the peripheral portion of the dia hra 25 between the same and the annu ar s oulder at the base 1 of the flange 23 as before described, and within the lower end of the upper-portion 29 of the body, the lower portion 30 has an annular roove 33 receiving the inner reduced en of a set'screw 34 threaded through the wall of the up r portion 29 adjacent to its lower end so t at by slightly loosening the set screw 34 the upper portion 29 may be freely rotated with respect to the lower portion 30 for a p urpose which will be presently described, it bein obvious that the set screw prevents lengt wise displacement of the two portions at all times and may be used to secure the upper portion 29 in de sired position of rotative adjustment with. respect to the lower portion.

The cap l2 threads at its lower end uponl the upper end of the upper portion 29 of the body and preferably has a knurled upper ring 35 and a whistle slot 36, the latter communicatin with thellower end of an inner cylinder 37 ofthe cap into which the upper externally threaded end of air tube 26 projects. This threaded upper end of the air tube 26 receives the lower end of a sleeve 3S having a diameter and external threads adapting it to the reception of the threaded and threads similar to that of the upper reduced end of a tire valve stem 14.

Through the air'tube 26 extends a valvel stem 39 having an upper head 40 within the sleeveA 38 and a controlling spring 41 coiled therearound and compressed between the head 40 and the upper end of the air tube 26. At the lower end of this valve stem -39 is a valve head 42 movable in the cylindrical axial bore of the lower head 28 of the air tube 26 and supporting a valve disk 43 which isnormally seated against the lower surface of the head 28. around-the lower end of the bore of tube 26 by virtue ofthe action of the-valve stem controlling spring 41. Extending and movable diametrically through this valve head 42 is a spring controlled plunger 44, one exteriorl projecting end of which is 'in the form o a ratchet head and the other ,exteriorly projecting end of which has a threaded adjusting nut.45 by means of which the extent of' projection of its ratchet head beyond one side of the valve head may be controlled for a purpose which will presently be plain.

The lower head 28 of the air tube and conseuently the air tube itself are prevente from rotation with respect to the attaching base 10 by virtue of a pin 46 which .projects inwardly and radiall vwithin the chamber 16 from the wall of t e intermediate section 15 of said base piece, which pin projects into a lengthwise slot 47 at one side of the head 28 so that the latter and the air tube 26 may at the same time freely shift in an axial direction. Diametrically op sed to slot 47, the head 28 has a second slldt 48 into which the ratchet head of the plunger 444 extends, and in this slot 48 a toothed wheel 49 is disposed and mounted for rotation upon a transverse pin 50, with its outer I portion engaged with the threads 17 inter` nally of intermediate section 15 of the base piece 1() and with its lower innerY portion engaged in turn by the ratchet head of the plunger 44.

Intermediate its ends and within the u l per portion 29 of the body 11, the air 4tu 26'has a lengthwise series of spaced annular grooves forming a series of annular ribs 51 for engagement between the teeth 52 aroundthe inner portion of a shaft 53 so that lengthwise movement of the air tube 26 will bring about rotation ofthe shaft 53 and the upper portion 29 ofthe body 11 can at 4the same time freely rotate around the air portion 29 `of the body from its upper end parallel to the axis thereof.

At the outer end of the shaft 53 is a segmental gearl 56 within a circular rim 57 at one enlarged side of the upper portion 29 of the, body said lrim formingwith its cover or cap- 58 a dial holding chamber within` which is acircular rotating dial 59 .having at one side an axial gear 60 engaged by the segmental gear 56 whereby swinging movement of theL latter upon rotation of shaft 53, causes rotation of the dial 59.

The cover 58 of the dial casing has a segmental sight opening 61 as clearly seen in Figures 1 and 5 and as best shown in Figures 3 and 5, a Celluloid or other transparentl disk 62 is disposed against the inner surface of the cover between the same and the dial 59 to protect the outer surface of the latter with its annular serles of graduations 63 the latter of which may be'viewed through the sight opening 61.

Thus in operation with the combineddevice of my invention in place on a Vtire valve stem 14 and with pressure in the tire the parts assume the position of Figure 2 and to supply more air pressure within the tire itis simply necessary to `unscrew and remove the.

whistle carrying cap l2. The attaching member of an air pump orair line is thenscrewed onto ythe sleeve 38 and air passes into the tire through the air tube 26 around the valve stem 39, the pressure unseating I ,valve disk 43 against the tension of spring 41. As the air'pressure increases within the tire and thus against the lower or inner face.

. of the diaphragm 25 the latter is gradually flexed outwardly and the\ air tube 26 with the parts carried thereby is shifted axially in an outward direction against the tension of its controlling spring 31. As the air tube 26 moves outwardly with its lower inner head 28, the toothed wheel 49 supported' in this head will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction viewing the parts as in Figure 2 and it is quite obvious that during thls rotation of the toothed wheel 49 jthe plunger 44 will simply yield lengthwise against the tension of itsy spring to the teeth of thewheel without affecting the operation of other parts. At the same time outward' movement ofthe air tube 26 will/,bring about'- rotation of the shaft 53 ofthe 'gauge which will cause rotation of the dial 59 in a clockwise direction to register the accumulating pressure. The proper pressure having been reached, the air .pump or airline is un screwed and detached and the whistle 'cap again screwed in place as in Figures 2 and 6, set screw 34, having been previously slightly released so as to permit of rotation of the upper portion 29 of the body 11 in order to properly position the dial casin facing the outer side of the wheel of whic a portion appears at 64 in Figure 1. The set screw 34 is then again tightened to hold the parts in this position.

As pressure decreases in the tire and is thus gradually relieved against the inner face of the diaphragm 25, the air tube controlling spring 31 in exercising its function causes gradual inward movement of this air tube and during this movement it is obvious that the toothed wheel 49 within air tube head,28vwill be rotated in a clockwise direction viewing the parts as in Figure 2- so that on account of its location above the plunger 44 the latter cannot yield with respect to the valve stem head 42 but this head and the vvalve stem will be shifted lengthwise -with` respect to the air` tube 26 and against thev vthe pressure chamber 16 of the attaching base as shown in Figure 6. Pressure will thereuponl escape outwardly through the air, tub'e and through the whistle slot 36 of the cap 12 so as to sound' the alarm. This takes place as each tooth of the wheel 49 rides over the ratchet head of plunger 44 and as each tootlu passes the plunger it is obvious .the valve disk 43 is immediately reseated when the valve head 42 can shift outwardly under tension of its spring 41. Thus it is obvious that by adjustment of the .nut 45 to control the outstanding projection of the ratchet head of plunger 44, the time that the valve disk 43v is'unseated can be controlled and in this way regulate the length of time of the sounding of each alarm.

It is obvious that during loss of pressure within the tirethe air tube 26 will, continue to move axially and inwardly, dial 59 will rection and the toothed wheel 49 will continue to rotate, unseating valve disk 43 each continue to rotate in a counter-clockwise di- 1 time one of its teeth rides over the ratchet head of the plunger 44 and it is obvious upon each of these latter movements an alarm will be sounded, thus bringing about a repetition at regular intervals of the pressure leak alarm, and these intervals including the interval before the first alarm' .is sounded,

may be controlled by varying the threads 17 within the attaching base and the teeth of the wheel 49 ,engaging the threads.

I claim '1. In a de vicey of the character described, a lengthwise shiftable air tube having an en- 'larged head at one end and an externally the same in one direction, a valve case within the head seated around one end of the tube and normally closing the same, a laterally movable plunger carried by the valve member, and means supported by the head of said tube in engagement with the said plunger, and movable connection with a ortion of the support for unseating the va ve and with respect to which the plunger is yieldable upon movement of the tube in one direction.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a support attachable to the valve stem of a pneumatic tire having a diaphragm therein and a threaded 'portion at one slde of the diaphra m, an axially movable air tube having one eaded end clamped through the dia hragm, an audible alarm member in which t e opposite end of the tube opens, a valve within the head ofthe tube normally closing the tube, and a toothed wheel rotatable in the head and engaging the Said threads of the support, said toothed wheel also engaging a portion of the valve and acting to periodically unseat the valve, as described.

3. A device of the character described,

including a ressure actuated spring controlled air tube, an air actuated alarm member in which the outer end of the tube opens, a valve normally1 closing the inner end of the tube, a support for the tube, and relativel engaging meanscarried by the tube and t e saidV support for unseating the said valve at spaced points in the movement of tle tube.

.4. A device of the character described including a pressure actuted spring controlled axially movable air tube, an alr actuated alarm member Vwith which one end of the tube communicates, a valve normally closing the o posite end of the-tube, a member carried y the said tube and rotatable with respect thereto during movement of thetube, having peripheral teeth,.and a member carried by the valve and engaged by the said teeth whereb to unseat the valve at intervals during rotatlon of the first named member.`

5. A device of the character described including a pressure actuated spring controlled axially movable air tube, an an' actuated alarm member with which one end of the tube communicates, a valve normally closing the opposite end of the tube, a member carried by the said tube and rotatable with respect thereto during movement of the tube, having peripheral teeth, and a member carried by thevalve and engaged by the said teeth whereby to unseat the valve at intervals during rotation of the first named member, said last named member being shiftable independent of the valve upon rotation of the vfirst named member in one direction.

6. A' device of the character described comprising a base section having a threaded portion to screw upon the valve stem of a pneumatic tire, a body threaded in connec tion with the base section, a diaphragm clamped between the body tion, a tube movable lengt wise through the body and clamped adjacent to one end through the diaphragm, a ca on the body into which the opposite en of the tube opens having a whistle-aperture, a valve normally closing the opposlte end of the tube within the base section, a spring enga ing the tube to shift the same toward the ase section, and means carried by the tube and coacting with the base section to unseat the valve at intervals during movement of the tube under actuation of its spring.

7. A .tire alarm comprising an axially Inov-l able 'spring controlled and pressure actuated air tube, a valve normally closing said tube, an alarm member actuated by air pressure through the tube, and means for perlodically unseating the valve during continuous movement of the tube in one direction under tension of its SprinivILLIAM A HARRIS of the base sec 

